Midwife Or Doctor? Things You Should Consider

Without accurate information, dealing with a pregnancy can be scary, and you have to come to terms with the fact that you will be bringing a new life into the world. The best thing you can do when you're pregnant or know someone who is, is to learn everything you can about the subject. In this article you will be given a variety of tips to help make your pregnancy go as smoothly as possible.

Use a cold-water bath for swollen feet. One highly common symptom of pregnancy is swollen feet and ankles, especially in the heat. A cold water bath can reduce the blood flow to your feet, which in turn will reduce the inflammation. It also cools you down and gives you an excuse to be off your feet for a few minutes.

To avoid nighttime heartburn while pregnant, eat your last meal at least two hours before you go to bed. Reclining just after eating will lead to increased acid reflux and heartburn. Also, use extra pillows to elevate your head and upper back above the level of your abdomen to reduce symptoms.

When riding in a car that has air bags, have the seat pushed back as far as possible from the dashboard. The closer you are to the dash, the closer you are to the airbags. Airbags can be dangerous to an unborn baby, though turning them off is more dangerous to you, so simply sit further away to balance these risks.

Change your eating habits if you tend to stay away from healthy foods. You want to be eating foods that have a lot of vitamins and that offer a lot of nutrition. All the food you eat your baby will be eating as well. This can effect the growth of the child.

Create a birth plan. Having a written document integrative medicine that expresses your wishes for your delivery will help the medical professionals involved understand what you want your experience to be like. Include things like who should be present at the birth and what procedures you want to stay away from during the delivery.

Ask for a walking tour of the birthing location as your due date approaches. It can calm your nerves about the experience since you understand what your environment will be. Try checking a couple places if you can to see what you're interested and not interested in. Make sure the facilities meet both yours and your companion's needs during your stay while in labor.

Learn the signs of premature labor, and when it is necessary to call your doctor. It is hoped that this is information you will never need. But knowing the realities can really help you if an emergency strikes. The earlier you are able to do something about possible preterm labor, the better your chances will be for a good outcome.

It is important for pregnant women to avoid eating certain fish, like shark, swordfish, and tilefish. These fish contain high levels of mercury, which can cause health problems for your baby. There are some seafood that is safe for pregnant women to eat including canned tuna, pollack, salmon, catfish, and shrimp.

Look at thrift stores and consignment shops for maternity clothes. You won't be wearing these clothes for long, so don't pay full price. You will keep money in your pocket and save the world from wasted resources.

Stay away from anything that could harm you or your baby. This includes cigarettes, alcohol and even over-the-counter medications. Talk to your doctor about anything you are considering taking and let them advise you on the best course of action. All these substances could have a negative impact on your unborn child's development.

If you are trying to conceive a baby, be sure to alert your doctor. This will eliminate the chances of them putting you on any medications or running tests that will make it harder for you to conceive or hurt your baby if you are pregnant.

Not smoking while you are pregnant is very important. The reason is simple: as you smoke, your baby is exposed to dangerous chemicals which can minimize your child's oxygen flow. Oxygen is critical in order to help your baby grow healthy. Please don't risk the healthy development of your baby just to smoke.

Before your child arrives, post a reminder to yourself in a prominent location in your home to add your baby to your health insurance plan. You usually have 30 days to do so after your child is born, but it is easy to forget during the haze of new parenthood. If delayed too long, this could leave your child uninsured until annual enrollment season rolls around.

If you have not already had one recently, an HIV test is something you should take when you find out you are pregnant. This can ensure your pregnancy stays healthy regardless of the outcome of the test. If a doctor is aware that a woman has HIV, the doctor can help ensure that the infant does not contract the disease. This also helps you find a doctor who can help care for your HIV during and after your pregnancy.

Try to aim for 300-500 extra calories a day while you are pregnant and breastfeeding. Peanut butter, eggs, cheese, nuts, and other protein-rich foods are excellent ways to take in the extra calories you need in a nutritious way, and the extra protein is essential for your growing baby's development.

You will be doing well if you are positive about pregnancy and how you should go about it. Remember to avoid stress as much as possible now that you have learned so much about making your pregnancy proceed smoothly.